Plural lamp-socket.



No. 896,122. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908. E. A. LEFEBRE, JR. PLURAL LAMP SOGKET.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 1907.

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES rggnnr ewes.

EDWARD A. LEFEBRE, JR., or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PLURAL LAMP-SOCIC ET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1908.

Application filed August 28, 1907. Serial No. 390,442.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. LEFisBRE, Jr., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plural Lamp-Sockets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to plural lamp sockets for incandescent electric lamps, the object being to -simplify'and cheapen the cost of construction of such sockets.

My invention consists in the details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more particularly set forth and then specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 illustrates a vertical central section through a plural lamp socket constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view showin the manner of mounting the individual amp-holdingsockets which form one terminal or contact for the lamp. Fig.3 is a side elevation of the central contact shell, detached from the rest of the device. Fig. 4 is a plan of the socket looking from below,

the protecting casing and one of the indiyidual lamp sockets being renioved. Fig. 5 1s a side elevation of the insulating block detached from the rest of the device. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section showing the manner of mounting the individual lamp sockets more in detail.

In the preferred form of carrying out my invention, 1 indicates the base formed preferably of a plate of metal and preferably provided with a threaded opening in the center for attachment to the usual wire carrying conduit. Secured to the face of the base 1 1s a block of insulating material 2, such as hard rubber, porcelain or other suitable substance. The insulating block 2 is provided with a central opening and cons1sts of a proectlng portion having squared sides and from which a circular flange extends which bears against the base 1 when the parts are secured together. A cup -shaped shell 3 )refcrably formed of a solid piece of metal liaving oblique sides is secured to the block 2 within the central opening. A binding post .4 secured to the shell 3 provides terminal means for one of the wires leadinginte the socket.

5 indicates spring contacts preferably formed by cutting a tongue from the shell 3 and are engaged by the center contacts of the I Also mounted on lamps. By this construction a contact is obtained which has 'a solid backing yet is capable of yielding and always presses against the contact of the lamp. The tongue or contact 5 is preferably curved so that it will have a large area of engagement with the contact of the lamp.

the insulating block 2 and preferably against the squared sides of the projecting portion is a bowl shaped frame consisting of side members orcontact plates 6 upon which the individual lampholding sockets-are secured, said plates being connected by a strip or strips -of metal 6' pref rably integral with said dates or a. connectmg strip of insulation might be used if it is desirable to connect the lamps in series. The ends of the plates- 6 which bear against .the insulating block are provided with a straight edge as shown more clearly in Fig. 2,

which edge bears against the surface of the flange of the insulating block and prevents the plates from turning. The plates 6 are also provided with suitable openings to allow the base of the lamp to pass through and make contact with the tongues 5. A suitable binding-post 7 secured to somesuitable part of. the'frame forms a. terminal for the other wire of the circuit.

The wires of the circuit, namely those for.

attaching to the binding-posts or terminals 4 and 7 pass into the socket through the wire conduit attached .to the base and through an opening 3 in the side of the shcll'3 and thenv secured to the said binding-posts.

The frame is preferably formed or stem ed from one piece of metal, any desired num er of plates 6 being provided to adapt the cluster to hold any number of lamps.

Mounted upon the contact frame and co- 'inciding with the o enings in the contact to engage suitable holes or slots formed in the Y flange S, thus preventing the socket from turning when the lamp is screwed in place. By these means the lamp sockets are more cheaply and quickly secured to their supports allow the lam sockets to pass through. An

insulating col ar 1-1 of porcelain or other suitable insulating substance 'is secured to the sockets, they will outer surface of the lamp sockets 8 and passes through the openings in the casing 10 and prevents the. shell or casing coming in contact with the various current carrying parts of the device. .I'

When the lam s are screwed into their be connected in parallel by the construction as shown, but, obviously, they could be connected in series if desired by breaking the connecting strip 6 and in serting a piece of insulation, in which case each plate for the lamp. sockets would hav, to be provided with a binding post.- a While I have showna socket adapted to supply current to two lam s, I do not limit myself to the same, as a c uster adapted to supply current .to any desired number of lam s might be constructed without departing rom the spirit of my invention by striking up additional tongues 5 from the shell 3 and providing attendant lampholding sockets constituting the side contacts.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a plural lamp socket, the combination with a suitable base, of an insillating block provided with a square projecting portion and a central opening, secured to sa d base, a central contact shell secured to said block in said opening and socket-holding plates secured to the squared sides of said insulating block.

In a plural lamp socket, the combination with a metallic base, of an insulating,

block provided with a squared projecting portion, and a central opening, secured to said'base, socket holding plates secured to the squared sides of said. insulating block, a central contact shell secured'to said block in said opening and spring contacts integral with said shell.

3: A plural lamp socket comprising a suit able base, an insulating block mounted. there on, lamp sockets supported by said block and-a central contact shell secured at its edge to said insulating block and provided with spring yielding contacts integral therewith.

. 4. In a plural lamp socket the co1nbination with a suitable base, of plates secured to but insulated from said base, lamp holding sockets provided with a laterally projecting flange and tongues integral with said plates adapted. to. secure the llange of said sockets to said plates.

5. In a plural lamp socket the combination with a suitable base, of plates secured to but insulated from said base, lamp-holding sockets, laterally projecting flanges integral with said sockets provided-with a plurality of slotsand tongues integral with said plates adapted to press against the surface of said flanges, the ends of said tongues being hooked in said slots.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of N ow York this 26th day of August A. DJ 1907. Y

EDWARD A.LEFEBRE, JR. l/Vitnesses:

O. F. TISOHNER, Jr., LILLIAN BLoND. 

